"Gators and capers"
Today was the second of DSGC's 2015 ad hoc flying days. Following the
success of "terrific Tuesday" Chris C had the idea that today maybe the
best day of the week, and so it turned out.
The normal suspects arrived just after 8:30 and quickly started to get the kit out.
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| The mottley crew (Mark C) |
DSGC's living vario (230) rigged so it looked promising and with Matt W in attendance people started to get excited. Just
as we were about to launch the next instalment in our quest for future
proofing our transport fleet arrived for DSGC testing.- A John Deere Gator, a tough looking machine but there again it needs to be. Everyone who drove it loved it, we retrieved/ towed and drove it all round the field. Road test verdict 10/10.
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| Gator on trial (Mark C) |
From the first launch the thermals were popping, indeed Chris C (sacrificial lamb) immediately had over an hour in the Junior.
Without
an two-seater instructor until later in the morning the solo pilots filled their
boots, whilst Matt W and Roly climbed aboard the DG for fun and capers (
see Matts story below) another "epic" adventure.
Mr Vario (230)
launched and got away as per normal, heading off to a rather large blue
hole over the great thermal town of Tiverton......
James arrived at 11 ish and immediately started instructing, Ray D was the first victim continuing his journey to solo aerotow.
After
two flights he was given the green light by James and promptly flew a
perfect aerotow, later in the day he went one step further and solo'd the
Junior, "what a perfectly flown early part of the aerotow" said Roly,
praise indeed !
He didn't come back for quite some time using the
remaining thermals and ridge lift, looks like he's been paying attention
to his instructors!
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| Beaming smile from Ray (Mark C) |
Paul L took time off from pumping iron and got a green light from James for his next visit.
Henry's
forecasted front tried to make an appearance at 3pm but it was a
fickle affair the sky still looking good after the kit had been retired
to bed at 3:30 pm with everyone having filled their boots.
Another fantastic ad-hoc day, thanks to all those who turned up and worked hard to make things work so well.
The Gator was washed and put into its cage in the hanger quivering at the thought of the weekend "testers". -Mark C
A Large Dose of Luck
Having missed out on "Terrific Tuesday" I was keen to be part of "Fabulous Friday" and with half price soaring fees I thought it would be nice to take the DG for a burn and besides it looked so sad, languishing in the hangar. You could almost hear it keening as the ever improving sky called to it. Roly, ever mindful of looking after the pride of North Hill, snuggled up in the back seat to share the flight and Mark C hauled us to 3000' near junction 27 in the hope of contacting wave. No wave but this lucky decision gave us the height to make an all or nothing foray out to a great looking street near Tiverton. I had to bribe Roly into going for this plan by offering to pay for the whole flight if we landed out. We were soon at cloud base though and exuberantly now decided on giving the club hundred a go. Round Tiverton easy enough and a brilliant energy line had us smoking round Crewkerne in what seemed like no time. Back into wind we cruised back abeam the club having stopped to savour a couple of booming thermals. Back up at cloud base we now could jump the Culm valley again to the clouds near Tiverton, nip round TIV and 1 final climb allowed us to properly complete the Club hundred albeit in reverse and with a respectable speed of 82kph. Not bad for February. As we crossed the finish line I could have sworn I heard the DG purring but I could be mistaken, and now I think about it, Roly did mention something about sphincter clenching.
A Large Dose of Luck
Having missed out on "Terrific Tuesday" I was keen to be part of "Fabulous Friday" and with half price soaring fees I thought it would be nice to take the DG for a burn and besides it looked so sad, languishing in the hangar. You could almost hear it keening as the ever improving sky called to it. Roly, ever mindful of looking after the pride of North Hill, snuggled up in the back seat to share the flight and Mark C hauled us to 3000' near junction 27 in the hope of contacting wave. No wave but this lucky decision gave us the height to make an all or nothing foray out to a great looking street near Tiverton. I had to bribe Roly into going for this plan by offering to pay for the whole flight if we landed out. We were soon at cloud base though and exuberantly now decided on giving the club hundred a go. Round Tiverton easy enough and a brilliant energy line had us smoking round Crewkerne in what seemed like no time. Back into wind we cruised back abeam the club having stopped to savour a couple of booming thermals. Back up at cloud base we now could jump the Culm valley again to the clouds near Tiverton, nip round TIV and 1 final climb allowed us to properly complete the Club hundred albeit in reverse and with a respectable speed of 82kph. Not bad for February. As we crossed the finish line I could have sworn I heard the DG purring but I could be mistaken, and now I think about it, Roly did mention something about sphincter clenching.
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| The DG goes X-country |
